beauty

And now let me present to you what definitely is the biggest hair transformation that I have ever experienced. And the best, thanks to MATRIX. After years of being a dark brunette haunted by leftover highlights from ombres of the past, I was finally ready for a major change. Something a bit more funky, but still me. It was time for me to get a MATRIX hair strobe! Red and pink has always caught my eye when I looked up hair inspiration, but I never had the guts before to actually give it a go myself. This time around, I finally said a bold WHY NOT?! You only live once yeah? And hair . . . well, it’s just hair . . . and sometimes you just have to have real fun with it. And so I told my stylist that I was going for something bold and bright, but still able to blend in with my natural color at the top. He told me a mix of peach, red, pink and purple tones to create a reddish sunset effect would be the perfect match for me. An intense color change, but still fitting in with earthy and bohemian style. I wasn’t sure what to really expect, but I trusted my gut and let the color stripping be put into action. I started to get excited as I saw Dan mixing colors in his bowls. So many bowls! So many colors! It was like sitting in on a live studio art show for the way he painted was quite an art form. Every stroke perfectly placed on my hair and balanced on both sides. It takes a talented hand and creative eye to create the finished result of my look! I was so impressed, and so happy at the end. I was beyond head over heels over my new color; fresh and bright for the summer season.

But, let’s talk more about the hair strobing process and what makes it so unique. The hair strobe by MATRIX is meant is highlight your best features, and is similar to using illuminator or highlighter on your cheekbones, tip of nose, above the lip, etc. to bring attention to certain features. It’s basically the same thing, just with hair instead! I got the cheek strobe, which means the highlights and color added to my hair will focus on calling attention to my cheeks and sides of the face. This is perfect for me since I love to wear my hair center parted most of the time, with light layers framing my face in the front. The effect brings my cheekbones to life, and also brightens up my face in general by bouncing light off at just the right places. I love that my new color complements perfectly the type of light bronze and golden hued makeup colors that I usually go for everyday, as well.

One of the interesting things to think about with a hair change like this is how it will effect my outfit choices! Before coming into the hair studio, I already had an idea of what I thought I wanted, and I knew that a more all white / neutral look would be a more fitting backdrop for my new hair look to come, and I was exactly right! My new sunset red was brought to life against my white dress. Right now, my wardrobe is very color and pattern heavy, but I do love mixing my bolder tastes with whites and sheer neutral fabrics. It looks like all my sheer white blouses will be coming out to play a lot more often now! Pretty excited for that actually. The fun thing is, my hair can act like an accessory now, especially with outfits that are more simple and neutral. It will be an interesting experience to see how I play around with that!

Thanks MATRIX for letting me have fun and experiment with my hair! I’m not afraid to go a little crazy anymore! Check out the MATRIX site to learn even more and see the different types of hair strobes out there 🙂

I think I made the best decision for the life of my skin by choosing to try out Tula‘s new range of skincare products. Wowzaaaaaassss. My skin has never felt, looked and glowed better before as an adult!! With it’s fresh blue packaging, and super lovely name, it wasn’t hard for me to pick up and put into my bathroom cabinet. But only the past few weeks have I really been making the line a part of my regular routine. The line is created with Probiotic Technology, which is special because it acts as a nourishing smoothie for your skin. Probiotics stimulate the production of defense cells that help our skin defend itself again aging and damage from outside environmental factors. It works on the skin the same as it works on the inside for our organs when we eat foods high in probiotics. My skin is generally normal/combination for it gets oily usually depending on the weather. And breakouts are pretty minor nowadays thanks to regular care and spot treatments that I use every now and then. But it wasn’t until I started using Tula’s Exfoliating Treatment Mask that my skin began to show a major difference in texture and tone, which were my two main issues. Using this mask twice a week (or more sometimes depending on how much I partied the weekend prior. haha), made my skin feel 10 times smoother, more even toned all over, and far more blemish free. I even used it as a spot treatment overnight. Slowly, I’ve worked all of Tula’s products into my routine. The Purifying Face Cleanser, the Illuminating Face Serum, and the most recent addition of the Hydrating Day & Night Cream (holy shit, this cream is the messiah of all face creams). I haven’t been this happy with my skin in a quite awhile. It feels like it has life again, and it even my friends and family noticed the difference, which really means the results are fab. I really recommend all your healthy skin lovers to give Tula a try! It’s ace.

Since this weekend marks the official start of Coachella, I’m going to finally share on the blog the Urban Decay short film Natalie and I shot in Southern California last month called “The Getaway”. Direction was by the talented Asher Moss (the coolest dude ever). It’s such a blast being able to work on projects like this with my sister, and especially with a team that is so on point. The brand’s new summer beauty collection and the kick off of festival season and road trips was the inspiration behind the video. It’s everything my sister and I love about summer, and it’s everything that defines our home on the west coast. Natalie and I basically played characters who were very much like ourselves, and who are on the run from something . . . leaving it all behind and looking for some adventure. Decked out with Urban Decay beauty products so we look fancy and pretty while doing it all, because bad ass babes are confident. From Palm Springs to Downtown Los Angeles to Malibu, we made our way through all our favorite parts of Southern California. Partners in crime and each other’s best friends, that’s all that matters at the end of the day. In search of sunset and gold. Hope you guys love the video as much as we do!

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos from our two days of shooting the video.

L’Oreal Paris is doing exclusive events in NYC with Allure this Saturday, April 16th, from 11am – 2pm at CVS in Astoria, Queens (31-01 Ditmars Boulevard) and CVS in Manhattan (241 West 57th Street). Come swing by for a day of mind blowing beauty and fun. A L’Oreal Paris makeup artist and hairstylist will be there to help you find a new makeup routine or hairstyle that works for you. Plus, there will be a bunch of complimentary samples so you can test out new products to find the right ones that suit your needs.

As a kid I grew up experimenting with my mom’s L’Oreal Paris makeup, and even up until this day the brand has always had a place in my makeup bag. Two things have never changed, despite the brand going through many evolutions . . . it’s always reliable and effortless to use, which are my main reasons for loving the brand so much. And all without breaking the bank, as well. Quality beauty products should always be accessible. I used all L’Oreal Paris products to create this natural, everyday beauty look featured in this post that has recently become my go-to. Dewy and fresh, with a hint of natural, barely there color on the eye and a heavy brow. Nowadays, it’s all about skin and the eyes for me. But never anything too heavy, of course. So now go head to CVS and get on the L’Oreal Paris bandwagon. There will be no going back, and your face is going to love you 🙂

L’Oreal Paris Youth Code Skin IlluminatorIt evens out my skin tone and illuminates in all the right places. I like to add extra around my eyes and cheekbones to highlight.

L’Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable MakeupI love that this makeup comes in so many different tones, so it’s easy to mix and match for the perfect shade. Thankfully for me, Natural Beige works for my skin tone exactly. It smoothes on soft and I can easily blend it with my finger to achieve full coverage that looks natural and not heavy at all. It actually makes my skin feel healthier!

L’OrealParis Colour Riche Mono EyeshadowI apply it with my fingers and it glides on like a cream that can be built upon to achieve the color you want. I love how it feels on.

L’Oreal Paris Butterfly Sculpt MascaraThe shape of this brush makes it super easy to apply and be super detail-oriented. I love that the bristles just line one side, like a comb. It was easy to see which lashes I was applying the most mascara to.

L’Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo and ConditionerMy hair is very long and prone to dryness from past bleaching and sun exposure. This shampoo and conditioner together work like a charm to bring my hair back to life with super moisturizing oils after it starts to feel dull.